Yoga Instructors

Open Lotus Yoga Retreat Yoga Instructors

YOGA INSTRUCTORS ~ योग शिक्षक

Professional Teachers & Mentors with Years of Experience

Meet your guides — your teachers, mentors, and friends that will help you become enlightened both physically, mentally, and spiritually. Our instructors, both local and from all around the world, will utilize their extensive knowledge and credentials in a broad range of disciplines to provide you with the best possible yoga and meditation experience. There's no better healing quality than the crisp Himalayan air. Combine that with personable, knowledgable teachers and you're well on your way to a sound body and soul.

CHHAPE RAM

Chhape Ram has been practicing yoga since 2007. He is a Hatha yoga teacher, teaches Pranayama (breathing techniques), Gentle Yoga asana, and is a practicing Thai yoga massager. He completed his yoga teacher training from the Nada Yoga School in Rishikesh and received Thai Massage training from professionals. Chhape is also an experienced mountaineer and trekking guide. He has traveled all over India guiding tours and organizing camping and trekking expeditions. He has 20+ years as a travel guide and 10 years as an experienced yoga and meditation practitioner.

RICKY HELDT

Ricky has been teaching and practicing healing arts for more than 20 years. He is the founder of Open Lotus Yoga in the United States. His certifications include:

Certified Integrative Yoga Therapy Instructor

Certified Astanga Yoga Teacher from Sivananda Ashram in India

Chair Yoga Instructor

Multiple Sclerosis Yoga Instructor

Reiki Master Instructor

Meditation Teacher

Thai Yoga Body Practitioner

JUAN GABRIEL MUNOZ VILLALON

Juan Gabriel let Yoga enter his life and that was the beginning of a wonderful journey. He enrolled for a retreat/training lead by his first teacher Elsie Matthijssens in North India. It was there that he developed a profound passion for Yoga and Philosophy. Back in Belgium he engaged deeply in to his daily practice and soon after, he started his first teacher training with Gösta and Patrick from Svaha Yoga. After a full year of discovering the path he started the adventure of building his own practice in Leuven – Puro Yoga. Juan Gabriel teaches daily Hatha Yoga, Yin Yoga, Prana Vinyasa Flow, Meditation, and Pranayama to a slowly growing yet enthusiastic community. Juan Gabriel is a global citizen, actively engaged in playing his part for a better planet.

GIANNA PURCELL

Gianna dove into yoga and a dedicated practice as a means to get out of chronic pain and mental instability. Once the journey began, the benefits were undeniable. Realizing the power of practice, she went full time studying under Bikram Choudhury for the 26 + 2 series, Mary Jarvis the backbend guru, Leslie Kaminoff for yoga anatomy, and Sarasvati for ashtanga. Gianna is a Bikram certified teacher, a 500-hour Yoga alliance certified teacher, and teaches bikram yoga, meditation, rocket yoga, yin and vinyasa. Gianna has competed in international asana championships, placing first regionally and nationally and second internationally. She currently judges for the USA Yoga Asana Championships, and continues to train to improve both her practice and her teaching. You may find Gianna all around the world leading teacher trainings, continuing education, and yoga classes and workshops for all walks of life.

CHUNILAL ACHARYA

At seventy three years young, this Hindu priest practices daily Hatha and Raj yoga. He loves to share his teachings and discuss topics that span the gamut of yoga, meditation, and spirituality. His impressive knowledge of these topics are sure to keep one interested in the lessons. As one of the senior priests of the Rama temple in Vashisht, he is a highly respected figure amongst all the villagers.

Yogi Ganesh

Learning yoga from his father and Other yoga teachers from Different Places and Gurus at Vashisht and Rishikesh . He is an expert in meditation techniques, the art of Pranayama,He is Good Mountain trekking guide also . He has done so many High altutude treks manali and Ladakh . He teach yoga in different Himalayas and High mountain places.He is teaching Yoga in camping and trekking also in different places .

RICARDO SANTANNA

Born in Brazil and residing in Germany, Mr. Ricardo Santana has been traveling and exploring India for years. He is an inspired, certified yoga and meditation teacher. When he isn’t practicing the healing arts, he works as an IT-trainer. He combines his skillsets to educate and connect with people from different cultures around the world.

MELANIE SARA LASSL

After discovering a Yoga book in her mother’s book shelf in the age of 16 followed by years of self-studies and exploring, Melanie Sara decided to trust and dedicate herself to her own spiritual path. She escaped from the cooperate world in August 2016 and moved to Ubud (Bali) for 6 months before sensing a calling to continue her journey in India. She is now based in Austria, right on the foothills of the Alpes, teaches Hatha Yoga and Nada Yoga and is an ambassador of female empowerment. She has a passion for cooking and is a space-holder of Sacred Cacao Ceremonies. Melanie Sara studies Ayurveda at the European Ayurveda Academy and spends as much time as possible in India to practise, encounter and share time and experiences! Melanie speaks English, German, French, and Italian.

ALINE DUVICQ

Aline has always had an innate fascination with the Himalayas. For ten years she has been traveling to Northern India to better understand it's rich culture. In complete harmony with this environment, she is happy to meet new people, go on treks, practice yoga (including sound yoga). All of this as well as her involvement with local charities enable her to better understand this complex country. She loves sharing her discoveries and passions. Aline has been practicing and teaching sound and Hatha yoga for over 8 years. These practices are in themselves a true voyage; a quest to reach a stable dimension of oneself through meditation. "Concentration, kindness to oneself and the care given to prana and vibes enable one to glide into silence." Aline is from France and speaks fluent English and French.

Open Lotus Yoga Retreat is a tour service located in the heart of the Indian Himalayas. We provide quality service and opportunities to explore the culture and spiritual/physical benefits of yoga, meditation, and adventure trekking.